Tubular frame structure



. FREASE TUBULAR FRAME STRUCTURE Fied March 29, 1925 April 1o, 192s'.

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UINHTED'v STATES HURXTHAL F. FREASE, OF CANTON, OHIO.

TUBULAR FRAME STRUCTURE."

Application led March 29,' 1926. Serial No. 985193;

The invention relates tol tubularI structures for `use as columns, chimneys, silos, grain elevators, and the lik and the objects of theinvention are to provide means enabling the construction of tubular structures having relatively large diameters, and of any desired length, and more particularly diametersand lengths in substantial. excess-of the like dimensions of tubular structures at present in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide tubular' structures as aforesaid having comparatively large dimensions, but constructed by the use of a minimum weight of material.

These objects are attained by the use, preferably in combination with an embedding and protecting monolithic such as concrete, of members determining an inner tubular surface, members determining an outer' tubular surface, and frame or truss connecting members therefor.

A preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part hereof, in which- Figure l is an end View, as at line 1-1, Fig. 2, of a tubular frame structure embodying the improvements herein, and embedded in protective material such as concrete; and Fig. 2, a fragmentary longitudinal cross section thereof as on line 2-2, Fig. l; portions of the inner protective material being broken away to show the inner tubular truss frame.

Similar numerals refer throughout the drawing.

The improved tubular frame structure, preferably a circumferentially and longitudinally trussed tubular structure, indicated generally at l. includes chord members 2a and web members 3 preferably connected to each other and determining an outer tubular surface, chord members 2b and web members 3b preferably connected to each other and determining an inner tubular' surface, and web members 3 connecting the inner and outer surface members.

The members thus arranged and connected to each other, as by are welding WV, form a circumferentially and longitudinally trussed tubular structure as illustrated, and this arrangement is adapted for the construction of a self-sustaining tubular structure of any desired diameter and length and of an desired strength.

It is a well known fact that one of the to similar parts 'tra most eiicient types-ofy columns is tubular. t

By arranging the same quantity of'mate-f,y

rial, as would be contained in a solidwall tubular column, as a circumferentially and .longitudinally trussed tubular structure, as

set forth herein, the tubulary trussed structure will be less-liableto plate buckling than.:-

the Vsolid wall tubular column- In many cases, also, the trussed tubular structure will have a greater over-all diameter for the same height than a solid wall tubular column having the same quantity of material.

For such uses as chimneys, silos, grain elevators and the like, it is preferred to embed the aforesaid tubular frame structures in such a protective monolithic material as concrete C, arranged in a tubular formation as shown.

It is a well known fact, however, that concrete is not well adapted to resist tension loads, and since chimneys, silos, grain elevators and the like, are subject to constantly varyingly positioned tension loads due to winds and the like, the practical magnitude of such structures has been heretofore limited.

By the use of the tubular frame structures of the present invention to resist the greater part of all loads to which the structure may be subjected, and by the use of concrete primarily as a protective material, the practical magnitude of tubular chimneys, silos, grain elevators and the like is substantially unlimited.

l claim:`

l. A tubular structure including circumferentially and longitudinally continuously arranged frame members determining an outer tubular surface, circumferentially and longitudinally continuously arranged frame members determining an inner tubular surface. and frame members connecting the sets of surface members.

2. A tubular structure, including truss members determining an outer tubular surface, circumferentially and longitudinally continuously arranged truss members determining an inner tubular surface, and circumferentially and longitudinally continuously arranged truss members connecting the sets of surface members.

B. A tubular structure including inner and outer longitudinally and cireumferentially continuously arranged frame members connected te each other, and members connecting the inner and outer members.

4. A tubular structure including inner and outer longitudinally and eireumferentially continuously arranged truss members connected to each other, and members connecting the inner and outer members.

5. A tubular structure including circumferentially and longitudinallyT continuously arranged frame members determining an outer tubular surface, eireumferentially and longitudinally continuously arrz'lnged 'traine members determining an Ainner tubular sur- *face7 frame members connecting' tlie sets et', surface members, and a protective material embedding the members.

6. A tubular structure, including truss members determining an outer tubular surface, cireumferentially and longitudinally continuously arranged truss members determining anV inner tubular surface, circumferentially and longitudinally continuously arranged truss members connecting the sets of surface members, .and a protective material nnexrrmn F. rangen. 

